Believe it or not ... Route 202 project will begin final phase

The state Department of Transportation announced last month that it would begin construction of the final phase of widening Route 202 to six lanes roughly between Frazer and Chesterbrook. The stretch of Chester County’s most hated and beloved highway is among its most congested, and the$63.3 million project to expand to six lanes is meant to improve travel and reduce congestion in East Whiteland, a spot where early morning commuters get a chance regularly to take a sip of coffee, send a few text messages, and reposition their makeup in the rearview mirror because, well, you have to do something when you’re not moving anywhere.

This project is the final contract to go to construction for PennDOT’s program to expand 6.2 miles of Route 202 to six lanes from just south of the Chesterbrook Interchange in Tredyffrin Township to the Route 30 Interchange.

“The start of this second Mainline contract is another positive step forward in our plan to transform Route 202 into a modern highway capable of moving travelers smoothly and safely through the Great Valley area of Chester County,” PennDOT District Executive Lester C. Toaso said.

Advertisement

This project is scheduled to finish in May 2016. We wish the contractors Godspeed.

But that is not all. In addition to widening Route 202, crews will rebuild and improve the Route 202/Route 401 Interchange; reconstruct bridges over Route 401 and Planebrook Road; replace the bridge over the Chester Valley Trail; erect three miles of sound walls; build a 32-space park-and-ride facility at the intersection of Route 322 and Lloyd Avenue in Caln Township; install Intelligent Transportation System components; plant landscaping; and build storm water management and mitigation sites.

Initially, crews will work the next two months to rebuild the outside shoulder on northbound Route 202 so it can support vehicular traffic during the next phase of construction. This operation will reduce northbound Route 202 to one lane Sundays through Thursdays from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. PennDOT advised motorists to drive with extra care and allow additional time for travel on Route 202 because slowdowns will occur in the single-lane pattern.

Route 202 carries an average of 76,000 to 71,000 vehicles a day between the Chesterbrook and Route 30 interchanges, respectively.

Visit www.us202-300.com for more information on this Route 202 improvement project.